How Much Water Are You Drinking Every Day?

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Some people do not realize the value of water, and how drinking it can have a huge effect on their overall health. Even if it is crucial to drink lots of water, many of these individuals may not be drinking the right amount of water every day.

According to the Institute of Medicine, men are advised to consume 3 liters of water a day, while women are supposed to consume 2.2 liters daily.

About 70% of the body is made up of water,while 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Since water is found everywhere, people take it for granted, and drinking a sufficient amount is not included in their list of priorities.

Among the different parts of the body, the kidneys depend a lot on sufficient water intake. Though these organs may not get much attention just like the heart or lungs, they have many important functions that help maintain the health of the body.

Reasons to Drink Water

The cells and organs of our body need water so that they can function well. In addition, this vital fluid regulates blood pressure, lubricates the joints, helps in the passage of food through the intestines, and protects the spinal cord and sensitive tissues.

Some of the water needed by the body comes from foods that have a high content of water – such as soups, oranges and tomatoes – but most of it comes from drinking water and other beverages.

As people do their normal daily activities, their body loses water and it has to be replenished. It is obvious that water is lost when sweating and urinating. However, many do not know that it is also lost when breathing.

Whether drinking from a bottle or the tap, water is the body’s best source of fluids. Milk and juices are good sources of water, while drinks with caffeine and alcohol content like coffee, soft drinks and beer are not very good – they have diuretic properties that cause the body to discharge water.

The Right Amount of Water to Drink

The right amount of water that should be consumed on a daily basis varies from one person to another, based on different factors – everyday activities and the amount of sweat they release. There is no universal rule as to the water consumption that needs to be achieved. Nevertheless, there is a general level of agreement as to the healthy amount.

The Institute of Medicine or IOM says that the sufficient amount of water that men should take is about 13 cups or 3 liters a day. They recommend 9 cups or about 2.2 liters for women.

It has always been said that people need to drink eight glasses (eight ounces per glass) a day, which is about 1.9 liters. This is very near the recommendation of IOM for women. It is somehow easy to remember the quantity 8 x 8 to set them on the right track, when it comes to water consumption.

What’s more, water also helps in dissolving nutrients and minerals to make them more available to the body. It also flushes waste products out of the body’s system. These two functions make water essential to the kidneys.

Short Q&A Session on Water Filtration

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What does Water Filtration mean?

A. Walter filtration is the process wherein water goes through a system that involves one or more filters to remove the taste, odor, color, iron, turbidity and some chemicals like chlorine. It can be designed as cartridge devices or loose media tank-type systems. Generally, this process can consist of absorptive, catalyst/oxidizing, mechanical and neutralizing filters.

How can I know the contents of my water?

If a municipal water supplier provides your water, you can go over your “Consumer Confidence Report” (CRC) to know what is in your water. It is mandatory for public water suppliers to provide an annual CRC. If you have a private well, you can ask a certified laboratory to analyze your water.

Which among the water treatment products should I buy?

The moment you verify what is found in your water, it is easier to determine the elements you want to remove. This can be done by means of a water analysis. Then, find out which among the types of systems available can best suit your particular needs.

There are some resources that can help you in making your best decision. Do not buy a product that people sell using scare/alarm strategies, and before purchasing, verify with many resources to ensure you will get a top-quality system/replacement part.

When water treatment equipment is installed, will it need some service/parts?

Home water treatment equipment requires special attention, and most of them need the replacement of filters and membranes. It is best to consider the service and maintenance instructions recommended by the manufacturer.

Why does my water have a peculiar taste? Can this be remedied?

If you want the water at your sink – used for drinking and cooking – to be treated by means of a POU (point of use) system, you can opt for a reverse osmosis system. This can take away fluoride, iron, lead, nitrates and several other contaminants.

What’s more, a Reverse Osmosis system can considerably improve your water’s taste and quality by removing chlorine and other unpleasant tastes. When you decide on treating the whole house with a POE (point of entry) system, which is installed where the water enters the house, you should first be able to identify the cause of the problem (via a water analysis).

The moment you have determined what causes the taste problem, you can search on the type of water treatment equipment designed to meet your specific needs.

When my well water was analyzed, it tested positive for coliform bacteria. What are coliform bacteria and how can you address this problem?

A. When water has coliform bacteria, this means that the well is prone to bacteria contamination. You have many options to address this problem. One solution is to have the well disinfected and retest your water for coliform.

If the next test still shows that water tested positive for coliform, you should consider a whole house water treatment system. Ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection is the most common way of treating waterborne bacteria.